The now-defunct Prichard Water Works & Sewer Board has one more chance for survival - the Alabama Supreme Court. (file photo)

MOBILE, Alabama – For the now-defunct Prichard Water Works & Sewer Board, a battle for survival comes down to one more stop: the Alabama Supreme Court.

An attorney representing the the former Water Board said today that he's confident the state's
highest court will listen to the group's appeal challenging a judge's ruling to
dissolve the entity.

Jay Ross, attorney for the former Water Board, said the
former Prichard Water Board is obeying last week's ruling by Mobile County
Circuit Judge Michael Youngpeter and has turned over its financial books to the
Mobile Area Water and Sewer System.

"The Prichard Water Board has no authority to issue payments
anymore," Ross said today. "MAWSS has an obligation to follow the contracts and
obligations the Prichard Water Board has incurred."

Those obligations include handling "six to seven"
outstanding lawsuits involving the Prichard Water Board, Ross added.

In addition, MAWSS is responsible for paying Ross' and other
legal fees generated during the recent court hearings between the two entities.
Ross said his office is reviewing the fees dating to January, and that MAWSS
will be asked to pay them.

Legal fees generated by Ross and others representing the
former Prichard board after Youngpeter's ruling on Friday will require
permission from MAWSS. Those fees will include legal work compiled to defend
the Prichard board during proceedings before the Alabama Supreme Court.

"It is my anticipation whatever is owed to the lawyers will
be paid," Ross said.

It is not known when the court could take up the case. Ross
filed a brief to the state Supreme Court on behalf of the Prichard Water Board
on Wednesday, which was the court-imposed deadline to do so.

Ross, meanwhile, said MAWSS has officially taken over the
checking account and other financial matters involving the Prichard water
system, which was once valued at $50 million. MAWSS is prohibited from making
any permanent or irreversible changes to the Prichard water and sewer system
while the case remains under appeal.

Youngpeter's ruling last week ended a battle of dueling
temporary restraining orders, which were filed by both the Prichard board
and MAWSS. Prichard wanted to block MAWSS from pursing the takeover until a
final ruling was made, and MAWSS wanted to force Prichard to cooperate with
preparations for a takeover as the issue made its way through court.

To access the appeal filed on behalf of the former Prichard Water Works & System Board, click here: Prichard_Appeal.pdf

The Prichard Water Board previously oversaw the water and sewer operations
for 11,000 customers in Prichard and Chickasaw; MAWSS serves approximately 90,000
customers.

Youngpeter's ruling
upheld Amendment 5 to the Alabama Constitution, which was approved in November
in a statewide referendum and by customers of both utilities. The Water Board has
since tried to block
the amendment from taking effect on constitutional and technical grounds.

The referendum resulted from a
grass-roots citizens' movement that pushed for changes as residents were
getting high water bills, some which cost more than $300 a month for residential
property owners.